Clarkstown residents rush to prepay property taxes before the end of year

Hundreds of residents in the Town of Clarkstown descended on Town Hall Thursday to pre-pay their 2018 town and county taxes before the new tax law goes into effect on Jan. 1st.
Seth Harrison/Lohud

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Peter Alexandro of New City and Frank Marallo of Congers were among the hundreds of Clarkstown residents who came to Town Hall to pre-pay their 2018 property taxes Dec. 28, 2017. Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said that in the first hour after opening the doors on Thursday, over 800 residents lined up to pay their taxes before the new tax laws go into effect in the new year. (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)Buy Photo

CLARKSTOWN - Peter Alexandro arrived at Town Hall on Thursday morning to prepay his 2018 property taxes prepared for the long haul with a magazine and a bottle of water.

He left 15 minutes later.

"They've got it well organized," Alexandro said. He printed out his bill at home and brought it with him to the Town Hall. "I expected a long line."

Alexandro was one of thousands of Clarkstown residents expected to have prepaid their town and county taxes in the hopes of finding a way around the federal tax reform, which negatively impacts New York taxpayers.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Rockland Legislature approved the process to prepay taxes before the year ends.

Maureen Landro, who works in the Clarkstown Town Clerk's office, accepts pre-payment of 2018 property taxes at Clarkstown Town Hall Dec. 28, 2017. Hundreds of town residents lined the halls of town hall to wait to pre-pay their taxes, before the new tax laws go into effect in the new year. Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said that in the first hour after opening the doors on Thursday, over 800 residents lined up to pay their taxes. (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

"This is kind of unprecedented for us," Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said. "In the first hour this morning we've had over 800 people. It's taking on average of an hour for people to come in and wait on the two lines." Hoehmann said Thursday night that 2,000 people came in person and another 500 had paid online.

Hoehmann, who stood by the doors Thursday morning to direct people to the correct line for picking up their bill or paying it, said they were trying to accommodate as many residents as possible.

"If people show up at 7 o'clock (p.m.) and the line is still going, we'll still keep taking their checks," Hoehmann said.

He said the town is expecting thousands of residents to prepay their taxes by the time offices close Friday.

Clarkstown Town Hall will be open until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday to accommodate residents.

"Kudos to the Clarkstown government for enabling us to do this," Alexandro said.

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Sandy Piller of New City was among the hundreds of Clarkstown residents who came to Town Hall to pre-pay their 2018 property taxes Dec. 28, 2017. Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said that in the first hour after opening the doors on Thursday, over 800 residents lined up to pay their taxes before the new tax laws go into effect in the new year. (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

Hoehmann said residents have several options to prepay. They could pay their bill online, print out their bill and pay in person or mail in their payment as long as it is postmarked before Jan.1, 2018.

The Internal Revenue Service released a statement Wednesday stating that prepaying taxes might not pay off, especially if the taxes were not assessed in 2017.

Hoehmann said this should not be a problem for Rockland County.

"It appears that people will be able to deduct their town and county taxes because we've assessed those for the coming year," he said, adding that this does not apply to school taxes. "People should check with their accountants but it appears that the assessment is done."

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Maureen Landro, who works in the Clarkstown Town Clerk's office, accepts pre-payment of 2018 property taxes from Robert Cheikes of Valley Cottage at Clarkstown Town Hall Dec. 28, 2017. Hundreds of town residents lined the halls of town hall to wait to pre-pay their taxes, before the new tax laws go into effect in the new year. Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said that in the first hour after opening the doors on Thursday, over 800 residents lined up to pay their taxes.(Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

Residents said prepaying is still the smart option.

Sherry Rosenstein, of New City, waited less than 45 minutes to pay her tax bill. She said it was worth it.

"If there is a possible benefit, I would prefer to have that possible tax advantage," Rosenstein said. "The bill is getting paid no matter what. It was, I think, the smart move."

Alexandro said he thought it would all work out okay.

"If not, you know what … if it doesn't work out … I don't think anybody should lose anything in this process," he said.